Conference article

Influence of Biofuels Production on the Climate Change

Carlos A. Cardona
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Manizales, Colombia

Monica J. Valencia
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Manizales, Colombia

Julian A. Quintero
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Manizales, Colombia

Download articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp11057636

Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:9, p. 636-643

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Published: 2011-11-03

ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

This work technically analyzes the biodiesel production from palm; bioethanol production from sugar cane and biotechnological hydrogen productions as well as the GHG emissions associated with the feedstocks production and processing. For this purpose modeling and simulation was used in combination with ASPEN PLUS software and Ecoinvent database for GHG calculations derived from material and energy balances obtained by process simulation. Different critical stages were simulated and analyzed: fertilizers production and use; biofuel production and pesticide production. Results indicated the importance of considering different stages and how these inclusions or exclusions affect GHG balances. For instance; fossil fuel used for industrial stage in bioethanol production increase GHG emissions eighteen-fold. According to this work; bioethanol from sugar cane was the system with largest emissions while biodiesel from palm oil had lowest emissions.

Keywords

Green House Gas emissions; Climate change; Biodiesel; Bioethanol; Biohydrogen

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